U.S. patent application number 14/729646 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-10 for system and method for determining the position of a moving part driven by an electric motor.
The applicant listed for this patent is Magna Closures S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Marco Bartalucci, Marco Marlia.
Application Number | 20150357949 14/729646 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51358015 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150357949 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marlia; Marco ; et
al. |
December 10, 2015 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF A MOVING PART
DRIVEN BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR
Abstract
A system for determining the position of a moving part driven by
an electric motor: a single position sensor, coupled to the
electric motor, incrementally detects an amount of movement
thereof; a direction switching arrangement controls a direction of
movement of the electric motor; and a control unit, coupled to the
single position sensor and the direction switching arrangement, at
each incremental amount of movement detected by the single position
sensor, determines a current position of the moving part based on a
previous position thereof and the current direction of movement
controlled by the direction switching arrangement.
Inventors: |
Marlia; Marco; (Guasticce
Collesalvetti, IT) ; Bartalucci; Marco; (Castelfranco
di Sotto, IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Magna Closures S.p.A. |
Guasticce (Livorno) |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
51358015 |
Appl. No.: |
14/729646 |
Filed: |
June 3, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
318/490 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02P 7/04 20160201; H02P
7/18 20130101; G05B 2219/49159 20130101; G05B 19/4061 20130101;
G05B 2219/37094 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H02P 7/18 20060101
H02P007/18; H02P 7/00 20060101 H02P007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 9, 2014 |
IT |
TO2014A000463 |
Claims
1. A system for determining the position of a moving part driven by
an electric motor, comprising: a single position sensor, coupled to
the electric motor and configured to detect an incremental amount
of movement thereof; a direction switching arrangement, configured
to control a current direction of movement of the electric motor;
and a control unit, coupled to the single position sensor and the
direction switching arrangement, and configured, at each
incremental amount of movement detected by the single position
sensor, to determine a current position of the moving part based on
a previous position thereof and the current direction of movement
controlled by the direction switching arrangement.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the direction switching
arrangement includes a first controlled switching element, which,
when activated, couples the electric motor to a power supply unit
so that the electric motor has a first direction of movement; and a
second controlled switching element, which, when activated, couples
the electric motor to the power supply unit so that the electric
motor has a second direction of movement, opposite to the first
direction of movement; wherein the control unit is configured to
determine the current direction of movement of the electric motor
based on the activation of the first and/or second controlled
switching element.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second
controlled switching elements include a respective relay
element.
4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the electric motor has
a first supply input terminal and a second supply input terminal,
between which a power supply signal (V.sub.s) is applied for
operation of the electric motor; and wherein the first and second
controlled switching elements are operable to reverse the polarity
of the power supply signal (V.sub.s) to cause switching between the
first and second direction of movement, and are further operable to
cause stopping of the electric motor.
5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the position sensor is
configured to provide a sensing signal (S) including a number of
pulses, each pulse having a respective duration and being
indicative of a detected incremental amount of movement.
6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the position sensor
includes a magnetic Hall sensor operatively coupled to a magnetic
ring arranged about a shaft coupled to the electric motor.
7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the control unit is
configured to determine a current position of the moving part based
on one or more of the following: the current, and a previous
direction of movement controlled by the direction switching
arrangement; the duration of the pulses of the sensing signal (S);
and an operating status of activation or stopping of the electric
motor.
8. The system according to any of claim 7, wherein the control
unit, at each current pulse of the sensing signal (S) during
operation of the electric motor, is configured to: increase or
decrease a position count, based on the current direction of
movement being a first direction of movement, or, respectively, a
second direction of movement, opposite to the first direction of
movement; and to store the current direction of movement as a last
direction of movement in a memory; wherein the thereby increased or
decreased, position count is indicative of the current position of
the moving part.
9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is
configured: to detect an obstruction of movement of the moving
part; and, upon occurrence of the obstruction, to compare a
duration of a current pulse to a duration of a previous pulse of
the sensing signal (S), and to increase or decrease the position
count, based also on the result of the comparison.
10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is
configured: to detect stopping of the electric motor; and, upon
stopping of the electric motor, to increase or decrease the
position count, based also on the last direction of movement stored
in the memory.
11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the control unit is
configured: to determine, upon stopping of the electric motor, a
normal stopping condition or a stall condition; and, in case of a
normal stopping condition, to increase or decrease the position
count in a way conform to the last direction of movement stored in
the memory, and, in case of a stall condition, to increase or
decrease the position count in a way opposite to the last direction
of movement stored in the memory.
12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor is
configured to generate a rotation movement, and the moving part is
coupled to the electric motor to undergo a related linear movement
along a first and a second, opposite, directions.
13. A window regulator for a vehicle, comprising an electric motor
and a position determining system, according to claim 12; wherein
the moving part is a window of a door of the vehicle.
14. A vehicle including the window regulator, according to claim
13.
15. A method for determining the position of a moving part driven
by an electric motor, the method comprising: incrementally
detecting an amount of movement of the electric motor, by a single
position sensor coupled thereto; providing an indication related to
a current direction of movement of the electric motor, based on an
operating status of a direction switching arrangement, configured
to control a direction of movement of the electric motor; and at
each incremental amount of movement detected by the single position
sensor, determining a current position of the moving part based on
a previous position thereof and the current direction of movement
controlled by the direction switching arrangement.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the position sensor
is configured to provide a sensing signal (S) including a number of
pulses, each having a respective duration and corresponding to a
detected incremental amount of movement; and wherein determining
the current position of the moving part is based on one or more of
the following: the current, and a previous, direction of movement
controlled by the direction switching arrangement; the duration of
the pulses of the sensing signal (S); and an operating status of
activation or stopping of the electric motor.
17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising, at each
current pulse of the sensing signal (S) during operation of the
electric motor: increasing or decreasing a position count, based on
the current direction of movement being a first direction of
movement, or, respectively, a second direction of movement,
opposite to the first direction of movement; and storing the
current direction of movement as a last direction of movement in a
memory; the thereby increased or decreased position count being
indicative of the current position of the moving part.
18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising detecting
an obstruction of movement of the moving part; and, upon occurrence
of the obstruction, comparing a duration of a current pulse to a
duration of a previous pulse of the sensing signal (S), and
increasing or decreasing the position count, based also on the
result of the comparison.
19. The method according to any of claim 16, further comprising
detecting stopping of the electric motor; and, upon stopping of the
electric motor, increasing or decreasing the position count, based
also on the last direction of movement stored in the memory.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein increasing or
decreasing the position count, at each incremental amount of
movement detected by the position sensor upon stopping of the
electric motor, includes: determining a normal stopping condition
or a stall condition of the electric motor; and, in case of a
normal stopping condition, increasing or decreasing the position
count in a way conform to the last direction of movement stored in
the memory, and, in case of a stall condition, increasing, or
decreasing, the position count in a way opposite to the last
direction of movement stored in the memory.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit and priority of Italian
Patent Application No. TO2014A000463 filed Jun. 9, 2014. The entire
disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a system and to a method
for determining the position of a moving part driven by an electric
motor; in particular, the following description will make explicit
reference, without this implying any loss in generality, to the use
of the system and method in relation to an automotive power
actuator, such as a window regulator for a motor-vehicle window,
sunroof or similar.
BACKGROUND
[0003] This section provides background information that is not
necessarily prior art.
[0004] Electric motors, in particular of the rotary type, are
widely used to drive moving parts, in particular in two opposite
directions, by inversion of the polarity of supply signals provided
thereto.
[0005] For example, in a motor vehicle, electric motors are used in
window regulators to drive a vehicle window (or sunroof, or similar
element) along two, generally linear, opposite directions, i.e. an
opening and a closing direction. Generally, the rotation of a shaft
of the electric motor is transformed into a linear movement of the
moving part, via a suitable coupling arrangement; therefore, a
movement of the moving part corresponds to a rotation of the
electric motor, with a given coupling ratio.
[0006] A system for determining the position of the moving part
driven by the electric motor is required in order to control the
movement (e.g. in order to implement a feedback control action); in
particular, in case of a motor vehicle window regulator, the
control action also has to provide safety features, such as a quick
reaction to events that could cause harm to a vehicle passenger (so
called anti-pinch feature).
[0007] Known position determining systems include incremental
position sensors coupled to the electric motor, e.g. magnetic Hall
sensors coupled to a shaft of the electric motor, in order to
determine an incremental change of position of the moving part
(with respect to a previous position), based on the sensed rotation
of the electric motor.
[0008] The present Applicant has realized that there are at least
certain operating conditions, for which determining the position of
the moving part driven by the electric motor may prove a difficult
task.
[0009] In particular, when an electric motor receives a command to
stop or reverse its movement, e.g. its rotation, the same electric
motor may continue its motion for a certain amount of time, due to
the momentum of the driven part coupled thereto. Moreover, it may
happen that a mechanical stall of the electric motor causes its
motion in a reverse direction with respect to a previous direction
of movement.
[0010] In order to at least partially cope with these difficulties,
known solutions generally envisage use of two or more position
sensors coupled to the electric motor, at spaced apart locations,
in order to determine its movements in the two opposite directions.
In particular, a phase difference between impulses detected by the
sensors may be used as an indication of the direction of
movement.
[0011] However, these systems are quite complex and expensive to
manufacture, and arrangement of the two or more position sensors
may prove to be critical in certain applications, such as in
automotive applications, due to size and costs requirements.
SUMMARY
[0012] This section provides a general summary of the present
disclosure and is not intended to be interpreted as a comprehensive
listing of its full scope and/or all of its aspects, objectives and
features.
[0013] It is thus an object of certain aspects of the present
invention to provide a simple, but at the same time reliable
solution, for determining the position of a moving part driven by
an electric motor.
[0014] This object can be achieved by a system and method, as
defined in the appended claims.
[0015] In this regard, it is the object of the present disclosure
to provide a system for determining the position of a moving part
driven by an electric motor. The system comprises: a single
position sensor coupled to the electric motor and configured to
detect an incremental amount of movement thereof; a direction
switching arrangement configured to control a current direction of
movement of the electric motor; and a control unit coupled to the
single position sensor and the direction switching arrangement and
configured, at east incremental amount of movement detected by the
single position sensor, to determine a current position of the
moving part based on a previous position thereof and the current
direction of movement controlled by the direction switching
arrangement.
[0016] Furthermore, it is an object of the present disclosure to
provide a method for determining the position of a moving part
driven by an electric motor. The method comprises: incrementally
detecting an amount of movement of the electric motor by a single
position sensor coupled thereto;
[0017] Providing an indication related to a current direction of
movement of the electric motor, based on an operating status of a
direction switching arrangement, configured to control a direction
of movement of the electric motor; and
[0018] at each incremental amount of movement detected by the
single position sensor, determining a current position of the
moving part based on a previous position thereof and the current
direction of movement controlled by the direction switching
arrangement.
DRAWINGS
[0019] A preferred, non-limiting embodiment of certain aspects of
the present invention will be described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a position
determining system coupled to an electric motor, according to an
embodiment of the present solution;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a magnetic position
sensor in the position determining system of FIG. 1, according to
an aspect of the present solution;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a control unit of the
position determining system of FIG. 1, according to an aspect of
the present solution;
[0023] FIGS. 4 and 5 show plots of electrical quantities in the
position determining system of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of control operations performed by
the control unit of FIG. 2;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a motor-vehicle window
regulator, in which the position determining system may be applied;
and
[0026] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a motor vehicle, in which the
window regulator of FIG. 7 may be mounted.
DESCRIPTION
[0027] With reference to FIG. 1, a system, denoted as a whole with
1, is now described, for determining the position of a moving part
20, driven by an electric motor 2.
[0028] In a known manner, here not discussed in detail, electric
motor 2 includes a rotor, operable to rotate with respect to a
stator.
[0029] In the example shown, electric motor 2 is of the rotary type
and is coupled to a shaft 3, which in turn is coupled to the moving
part 20, via a suitable arrangement for movement transformation (of
a known type, here not shown).
[0030] Electric motor 2 is operable to rotate the shaft 3 in a
first direction, e.g. clockwise, and in a second opposite
direction, e.g. anti-clockwise, via application of power supply
signals with respective, reversed, polarities.
[0031] In particular, electric motor 2 has a first and a second
supply input terminal 2a, 2b, which are designed to be coupled to a
power supply unit 5, having a first supply output terminal 5a,
providing a positive power supply signal V.sub.s, e.g. equal to +12
V, and a second supply output terminal 5b, providing a reference
ground potential GND (or a negative power supply signal).
[0032] A switching arrangement is coupled to the electric motor and
is operable to control a direction of movement thereof.
[0033] In particular, a first controlled switching element 6, in
particular a relay, in the example shown of the electromagnetic
type, couples the first supply input terminal 2a of the electric
motor 2 to the power supply unit 5. The first controlled switching
element 6 receives at its input a first control signal R.sub.1,
e.g. between a first and a second control input terminal 6a, 6b;
the first control signal R.sub.1 is for example provided as a
function of a user actuation on a first switch element 7 (e.g. in
the form of a push button, a lever or similar actuatable
element).
[0034] A second controlled switching element 8, in particular a
relay, in the example shown of the electromagnetic type, couples
the second supply input terminal 2b of the electric motor 2 to the
power supply unit 5. The second controlled switching element 8
receives at its input a second control signal R.sub.2, e.g. between
a first and a second control input terminal 8a, 8b; the second
control signal R.sub.2 is for example provided as a function of a
user actuation on a second switch element 9, which is alternative
to actuation of the first switch 7.
[0035] In an alternative solution, both the first and the second
control signal R.sub.2 may be the result of the actuation of a same
switch, e.g. in different directions thereof.
[0036] Also, first and second control signals R.sub.1, R.sub.2 may
instead be provided by an external control unit (here not shown,
for example a main control unit of a vehicle in which the system 1
is used), for example as a function of user actuation on the first
and second controlled switching elements 6, 8.
[0037] Moreover, activation of controlled switching elements 6, 8
may also occur independently from user activation of the respective
switches 7, 9; for example, in case of a window regulator
implementing an anti-pinch feature, a control unit may actively
stop providing energy to the electric motor 2 in a requested
direction, and possibly provide energy in the opposite direction,
when an obstacle, or an obstruction is sensed, by an anti-pinch
system in the path of the window in the given direction (in a known
manner, here not discussed in detail).
[0038] When the first controlled switching element 6 is engaged, or
activated (and the second controlled switching element 8 is not
engaged, or deactivated), the first controlled switching element 6
connects the first supply input terminal 2a to the first supply
output terminal 5a, providing thereto the positive supply signal
V.sub.s; and the second controlled switching element 8 connects the
second supply input terminal 2b to the second supply output
terminal 5b, at the reference ground potential GND.
[0039] Likewise, when the first controlled switching element 6 is
not engaged (and the second controlled switching element 8 is
engaged), the first controlled switching element 6 connects the
first power supply terminal 2a to the reference ground potential
GND; and the second controlled switching element 8 connects the
second power supply terminal 2b to the first output terminal 5a,
providing thereto the positive supply signal V.sub.s.
[0040] When a motor stop command is issued via the switches 7, 9,
or by the control unit, the supply input terminals 2a, 2b of the
electric motor 2 are electrically shorted by deactivation of both
controlled switching elements 6, 8, thereby braking the same
electric motor 2.
[0041] The switching arrangement including the first and second
controlled switching elements 6, 8 therefore allows for inversion
of the polarity of power supply signals provided to the electric
motor 2, and stopping of the same electric motor 2; moreover,
operation of the same switching arrangement is indicative of the
direction of movement of the electric motor 2.
[0042] In more detail, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1,
the first controlled switching element 6 has a first and a second
side terminal 6c, 6d, respectively connected to the first and
second supply output terminals 5a, 5b, and a central terminal 6e
connected to the first supply input terminal 2a. The central
terminal 6e is normally electrically shorted to the second side
terminal 6d, thereby shorting the path between the second supply
output terminal 5b and the first supply input terminal 2a. When the
first controlled switching element 6 is engaged, the central
terminal 6e switches (e.g. due to electromagnetic attraction, as
schematically shown in the same FIG. 1) to the first side terminal
6c, thereby shorting the path between the first supply output
terminal 5a and the first supply input terminal 2a.
[0043] Likewise, the second controlled switching element 8 has a
first and a second side terminal 8c, 8d, respectively connected to
the first and second supply output terminal 5a, 5b, and a central
terminal 8e connected to the second supply input terminal 2b. The
central terminal 8e is normally electrically shorted to the second
side terminal 8d, thereby shorting the path between the second
supply output terminal 5b and the second supply input terminal 2b.
When the second controlled switching element 8 is engaged, the
central terminal 8e switches (e.g. due to electromagnetic
attraction) to the first side terminal 8c, thereby shorting the
path between the first supply output terminal 5a and the second
supply input terminal 2b.
[0044] According to an aspect of the present solution, position
determining system 1 includes a single position sensor unit 10,
coupled to the electric motor 2, in order to incrementally detect
the amount of rotation thereof.
[0045] In particular, position sensor unit 10 includes an
incremental position sensor 11; in a possible embodiment, position
sensor unit 10 includes a magnetic Hall sensor coupled to a fixed,
stator body of the electric motor 2, and cooperating with a magnet
ring 12 mounted about the shaft 3 of the same electric motor 2. The
position sensor 11 determines an incremental change of position of
the electric motor 2 with respect to a previous position, this
incremental change being positive, or negative, depending on the
direction of movement of the electric motor 2.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 2, magnet ring 12 includes a number of pole
sections 12' with alternating polarities (N, S); in the example
shown, two pairs of radial pole sections 12' are shown.
[0047] During rotation of the shaft 3, position sensor 11 outputs a
sensing signal S (FIG. 1) including a number of rectangular pulses,
as shown in FIG. 3. Each rising, or falling, edge of the pulses of
the sensing signal S corresponds to a transition between opposite
pole sections 12' of the magnet ring 12, and thereby corresponds to
an elementary rotation of the electric motor 2 (to which in turn
corresponds a related change of position of the moving part 20
driven by the same electric motor 2).
[0048] Position determining system 1 further includes a control
unit 14 (shown in FIG. 1), which is configured to determine the
position of moving part 20 based on the incremental position
information associated to the sensing signal S, and also based on
the status of the first and second controlled switching elements 6,
8 (and the associated first and second control signals R.sub.1,
R.sub.2), the latter being indicative of a rotation direction for
the electric motor 2.
[0049] In detail, and as shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 14
includes: a processing stage 15, e.g. including a microprocessor, a
microcontroller, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or similar
processing unit; a memory 16, e.g. a non volatile RAM memory,
coupled to the processing stage 15; a first interface 17 (which may
be distinct to, or integrated in the processing stage 15), coupled
to the processing stage 15 and to the position sensor unit 10 and
configured to acquire sensing signal S; a second interface 18
(which may be distinct to, or integrated in the processing stage
15), coupled to the processing stage 15 and configured to acquire
status information about the activation of the first and second
controlled switching elements 6, 8; and an output interface 19,
coupled to the processing stage 15 and to an external processing
device (not shown, e.g. a control unit of the vehicle in which
position determining system 1 is used).
[0050] In a possible embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, control unit
14 (in particular, the second interface 18 thereof) is electrically
coupled to the first and second supply input terminals 2a, 2b of
the electric motor 2, and is configured to determine the status
information about activation of the first and second controlled
switching elements 6, 8 based on a voltage present on the same
supply input terminals 2a, 2b. However, it is clear that other
solutions may be envisaged: for example, second interface 18 may be
coupled to the control input terminals 6a, 6b, and 8a, 8b of the
controlled switching elements 6, 8 (or to control outputs of the
external control unit generating control signals R.sub.1, R.sub.2),
in order to acquire the first and second control signals R.sub.1,
R.sub.2, or information associated thereto (in any case indicative
of the rotation direction of electric motor 2).
[0051] In particular, activation of the first controlled switch 6
corresponds to a first direction of movement for moving part 20
(for example a rising, or UP, movement of a window, in case of a
window regulator); while activation of the second controlled switch
8 corresponds to a second direction of movement of the same moving
part 20 (for example a falling, or DOWN, movement of the window, in
case of the window regulator).
[0052] During operation, processing stage 15 of control unit 14
acquires the sensing signal S from position sensor 11, and is
configured to process the same sensing signal S to detect the
rising and/or falling edges of the pulses thereof.
[0053] For each detected rising and/or falling edge, as
schematically shown in FIG. 5, corresponding to a transition
between opposite pole sections 12' of the magnet ring 12 of
position sensor unit 10, processing stage 15 generates a
corresponding record or data structure, denoted with 22 in the same
FIG. 5.
[0054] Data structure 22 includes: a first field 22a, where the
digital level (high or low) of the sensing signal S (resulting from
the transition) is recorded; a second field 22b, where the time
elapsed from a previous detected edge (so called period, or
semi-period) is recorded, this being indicative of a duration of
the pulse and thus of a rotation speed of the electric motor 2 (and
correspondingly of a movement speed for the moving part 20); a
third field 22c, where the status of the controlled switching
elements 6, 8 is recorded, e.g. in the form of a digital
information (`0` representing a deactivated state, and `1`
representing an activated state); and a fourth field 22d, where a
stall condition information is stored.
[0055] In particular, in a known manner, a stall (or mechanical
block) condition for the electric motor 2 is a condition in which
the same electric motor 2, although energized via activation of the
controlled switching elements 6, 8, does not produce a rotation
output.
[0056] Processing stage 15 of control unit 14 may be configured to
detect occurrence of a stall condition, when no pulses are received
from the position sensor 11 over a given period of time, for
example in the range of 0.1 to 1 s, during which at least one of
the controlled switching elements 6, 8 is engaged.
[0057] A specific task is therefore executed by processing stage 15
to detect occurrence of the stall condition of electric motor 2,
based on the status information on activation of the controlled
switching elements 6, 8 and on the position information provided by
the position sensor 11.
[0058] Data structures 22 are stored in memory 16, e.g. in the form
of a buffer, and processing stage 15 is configured to execute a
processing task at a given processing frequency, e.g. every 2 ms,
in order to track the position of the moving part 20 driven by
electric motor 2.
[0059] Processing of data structures 22 is based on a processing
algorithm, which will now be discussed with reference to FIG.
6.
[0060] In general, this algorithm envisages incrementing a position
count (associated to the pulses in the sensing signal S) in the
direction of the activated controlled switching element 6, 8.
[0061] The position of the moving part 20 is directly correlated to
the position count, and thus the position of the moving part 20 is
determined, at any time, from the same position count.
[0062] Until the controlled switching element 6,8 continues to be
active in the same direction, the position count continues to be
incremented, or decremented, with respect to a previous value,
according to the motor activation direction.
[0063] Moreover, a last-direction variable (i.e. a location in
memory 16) is each time updated to the direction of rotation of the
electric motor 2 (corresponding to the activated controlled
switching element 6, 8).
[0064] As previously discussed, it is possible that the moving part
20 moves even when the electric motor 2 is not powered, continuing
its motion after the same electric motor 2 is stopped, in the same
direction (in case of normal, or electrical, stop), or in the
reverse direction of last motor activation (in case of stall, or
mechanical block).
[0065] Therefore, according to the algorithm, when the movement of
the electric motor 2 is stopped, the pulses in the sensing signal S
are counted in the same direction of the previous motor movement if
the electric motor 2 is not stopped due to a stall condition
(indeed, it is assumed that the moving part 2 continues its motion,
due to its momentum).
[0066] If the motor is stopped in a stall condition, the pulses in
the sensing signal S after motor stop are instead counted in the
reverse direction with respect to the last motor activation
(indeed, it is assumed that, due to the stall condition, a reversal
of the rotation direction of the electric motor 2 occurs).
[0067] In each case, the last direction of movement may be
determined based on the content of the last-direction variable, and
the position count is incremented accordingly in that
direction.
[0068] Moreover, the algorithm properly takes into account, when
determining the position count, also the activation of an
anti-pinch function, which causes reversal of the motion of the
moving part 20 when an obstruction is detected along its path of
movement.
[0069] In more details, and with specific reference to FIG. 6,
processing task on each data structure 22 executed by the
processing stage 15 of control unit 14 envisages, in a first block
30, determining whether the first controlled switch element 6
(Relay 1) is activated, and the second controlled switch element 8
(Relay 2) is not activated.
[0070] If this is the case, a moving direction of the moving part
20 is determined to be a first direction of movement (for example
corresponding to an UP direction), and the last-direction variable
is updated, at block 31, to the first direction of movement.
[0071] Moreover, position count is incremented, at block 32, and
task processing ends.
[0072] If, at block 30, it is determined that the first controlled
switch element 6 is not activated, the algorithm proceeds to block
33, where a determination is made, whether the second controlled
switch element 8 is activated.
[0073] If this is the case, the moving direction of the moving part
20 is determined to be a second direction of movement (for example
corresponding to a DOWN direction), and the last-direction variable
is updated, at block 34, to the second direction of movement.
[0074] The algorithm then proceeds to block 35, where it is checked
if a pinch (or, in general, an obstruction) event has occurred and
has been detected; in a known manner, the pinch condition may be
determined by the control unit 14 based on an excessive current
drawn from the power supply by electric motor 2, or by suitable
force sensor or other kind of sensors coupled to the moving part
20, and determines a reversal of movement of the moving part 20
(from an UP to a DOWN direction).
[0075] If no pinch is detected, then position count is decremented,
at block 36, and task processing ends.
[0076] If instead, at block 35, a pinch condition is detected, the
algorithm proceeds to block 37, where it is checked if the period
value for the current data structure 22 (stored in the second field
22b thereof) is not lower than the period value of a last data
structure 22 analyzed (which may also conveniently be stored in
memory 16).
[0077] Indeed, due to the detected obstruction, a reversal of
motion of the electric motor 2 is controlled, which may cause a
lengthening of the detected pulse (due to detection of a first
forward incremental amount movement, followed by a second reverse
incremental amount of movement).
[0078] If this is the case, movement of the moving part 20 is thus
still determined to be in the first direction (although the
electric command has been provided, the electric motor 2 has not
reversed yet its motion) and the algorithm proceeds back to step
32, where the position count is incremented; then, the current task
processing ends.
[0079] If the period value for the current data structure 22 is
instead determined to be lower than the period value of a last data
structure 22, at block 37, then it is determined that the moving
part 20 has indeed reversed its motion, and therefore the position
count is decremented twice, at block 38, in order to take into
account also the reverse amount of movement occurred during the
previous pulse (the one having a longer duration).
[0080] The pinch event is thus considered to have been taken into
account, and the further steps of the algorithm will then consider
this pinch event resolved (e.g. a pinch flag stored in memory 16,
which was previously activated upon detection of the obstruction,
is deactivated).
[0081] Returning now at block 33, if it is determined that both the
first and the second controlled switch elements 6, 8 are not
activated, the algorithm proceeds to block 40, where it is checked
if a stall condition has occurred and has been detected (again, a
stall flag indicative of the stall event may be envisaged).
[0082] If a stall condition has not occurred, in block 41, a normal
stopping condition is determined for the electric motor 2 and the
last direction stored in the last-direction variable is then
checked.
[0083] In case the last direction corresponds to the first
direction of movement, position count is incremented, at block 42,
and task processing ends.
[0084] In case the last direction instead corresponds to the second
direction of movement, position count is decremented, at block 43,
and task processing ends (in any case, upon normal stopping,
position count is varied in a way conformal to the direction of
movement).
[0085] If, at block 40, it is instead determined that the stall
condition has occurred, the algorithm proceeds to block 45, where
the last direction of movement (when stall occurred) is
checked.
[0086] If the last direction corresponds to the first direction of
movement, then the position count is decremented, at block 46, and
task processing ends.
[0087] If, instead, the last direction corresponds to the second
direction of movement, then the position count is incremented, at
block 47, and again task processing ends (in any case, if the stall
condition occurs, position count is varied in a way that is
opposite to the direction of movement).
[0088] As previously discussed, the present solution may find
advantageous application within a vehicle, for example in a window
regulator thereof.
[0089] In this regard, FIG. 7 shows a window regulator 50, operable
for driving a slider pane or window 51 between open and closed
positions with respect to a supporting frame 52, fixed to a vehicle
door 53.
[0090] Window regulator 50 includes an electric motor, denoted
again with 2, and a control circuit 54, electrically coupled to the
electric motor 2, and including suitable hardware and/or software
to control the operation of the same electric motor 2; in
particular, control circuit 54 includes the position determining
system 1, for determining the position of window 51 (and in
particular the related control unit 14).
[0091] Window regulator 50 further includes a mechanical coupling
assembly 55 (shown schematically), including e.g. rotating output
shafts, gear trains and/or reduction gear trains, coupling the
electric motor 2 to the window 51, so as to cause its movement with
respect to the supporting frame 52.
[0092] FIG. 8 shows a vehicle 60, where the window regulator (here
not shown) may be mounted, for example to control actuation of
window 51 of door 53.
[0093] The advantages of the discussed solution are clear from the
foregoing description.
[0094] In particular, it is underlined that this solution allows to
reliably track and determine the position of a moving part 20
driven by an electric motor 2, efficiently coping with critical
operating conditions, such as reversal of direction of movement
(e.g. due to an anti-pinch function), electrical and/or mechanical
block of the electric motor 2, in particular a stall thereof.
[0095] Moreover, the discussed system 1 envisages use of very few
components, in particular a single incremental position sensor 10
(e.g. a Hall sensor).
[0096] No relevant changes are thus to be made to existing devices,
for example to a window regulator, in which position determining
system 1 may be used, even in case of retrofitting or upgrade
operations. Indeed, position determining system 1 mainly uses
components (such as the controlled switch elements 6, 8), which may
already be present in such devices.
[0097] Clearly, changes may be made to what is described and
illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of
the present invention, as defined in the accompanying claims.
[0098] In particular, it is underlined that other types of position
sensors may be used to sense the rotation of the electric motor 2,
different from a magnetic Hall sensor, for example an optical
sensor, an inductive or a capacitive sensor, a contact position
sensor.
[0099] Moreover, other types of controlled switching elements,
different from relays, may be used to control operation of the
electric motor 2, and any other suitable means may be used in order
to detect the direction of rotation of the same electric motor 2;
for example, other switching semiconductor transistor devices, like
MOSFET or BJT controlled switches could be used in the switching
arrangement coupled to the electric motor 2.
[0100] It is also clear that the discussed system and method may be
used advantageously with other automotive power actuators in a
motor vehicle, different from the window regulator discussed in the
preferred embodiment; for example, the solution may be used for a
boot compartment, a sliding door or a sunroof of the vehicle.
* * * * *